Angry passengers attack staff after flight delays

India's aviation ministry said Tuesday it would investigate
delays in flights operated by state-run Air India after staffers
were injured in a fight with angry passengers at the weekend.

Several hundred people were delayed at New Delhi's international
airport as six Air India flights were delayed and paramilitary
troops called in to control angry passengers, airline spokesman
Jitendra Bhargava said.

Responding to the incidents, India's aviation ministry said it
was "concerned" about the delays and would investigate.

"The minister has taken a serious view of it. The ministry is
contemplating strong action and will fix responsibility," civil
aviation ministry spokeswoman Maushumi Chakraborty said.

Air India blamed the passengers for the delay.

"Passengers of one delayed flight delayed others by preventing
them access to check-in counters," Bhargava said, adding the
airline would probe the delays.

The carrier has long been criticised for inefficiency and its
ageing fleet.
Last year, Air India signed an agreement to buy 68 Boeing jets for
around 11 billion dollars, marking the biggest deal in Indian
aviation history.